How to choose the right gym for you

There are a lot of gyms out there and it can be hard to know which one would suit you best. Achieving your fitness goals means working out regularly and staying motivated, and that depends on a number of the factors we’ve listed below. If the gym is too far from you, or it’s not open at convenient times for you, chances are you’ll go once or twice, then never again. A good gym will help you figure out what your fitness goals are and how to achieve them, whether you just want to get fitter, lose weight, build muscle, or train for a particular sport or competition.

In 2014, 24% of gym members we surveyed said they often start exercising as a New Year’s Resolution but fail within weeks. Don’t make another failed resolution – check out the gyms you’re considering before signing up.

Our printable checklist

below will help you decide whether you’ve found “the one” or not. Take a tour of the gym and ask yourself – and the staff you meet – the following questions.

You can also find out which gyms New Zealanders we surveyed were most satisfied with, by reading our survey results here. In 2014, Kiwis gave the Canstar Blue award for customer satisfaction to Les Mills gyms. You can find your local Les Mills fitness club online.

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The ultimate checklist for choosing a gym

Before we go, remember to read any contract properly before signing up, even for a weekly or monthly payment plan. 73% of Kiwis we surveyed said they read the terms and conditions before signing up for a gym, which is great. But 22% said they had still been caught out by an ongoing contract, with direct debit payments coming out after they had finished the period they signed up for.

To our knowledge, all information in articles on the Canstar Blue website was correct at the time of publication. This information may have changed over time. Refer to the product fact sheet (or relevant similar documentation) before making any purchase decision. Canstar Blue's website terms and conditions apply.